It rained on their parade

The rain put a damper on Saturday’s Patriot’s Day Parade by canceling it.

Comment

By Todd G. Higdon

Neosho Daily News - Neosho, MO

By Todd G. Higdon

Posted Sep. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 15, 2012 at 11:30 PM

By Todd G. Higdon

Posted Sep. 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 15, 2012 at 11:30 PM

The rain put a damper on Saturday’s Patriot’s Day Parade by canceling it.

The parade – which was sponsored by Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce and the Neosho Exchange Club, was canceled around 9 a.m. Saturday. The parade was to start at 10:30 a.m.

“We actually had considered it (holding it) up until the last 30 minutes of trying to hold it, but the rain had just gotten worse and worse,” said Rick Holden, president of the Neosho Exchange Club.

It would have been the first time for the event.

“Basically to give recognition to those that serve us here at home in our communities through law enforcement, first responders, fire departments, as well as the highway patrol and then to our veterans that are now serving or our past veterans that have served, that basically gives us the freedom to do this,” Holden said. “We appreciate those that were interested.”

The parade route would have started at College and Spring streets, turned south at Wood, turned east at Main, then north on Washington, ending at Washington and McCord streets.

Planning for this parade began back in the spring. More than 30 parade participants had signed up and organizers said others could have participated the day of the event.

Even though the parade was canceled, it did receive some great attention through the planning stages.

“There is a lot of interest in this, a lot of interest,” said Kevin Wilson, a member of the Exchange Club. “For our first parade, was extremely well received by everyone. We have had a lot of excitement about it.”

Patriot Day was established by Congress in a joint resolution in 2002, with its first observance held on the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. According to the proclamation establishing the day, its intent is to honor those individuals and emergency responders lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. Recently the day has also been observed as a day of service.